How to Get Dog Smells Out of Large Rugs

Removing dog smells from rugs is not impossible.

Dogs sweat through their paws and hair follicles, and also produce oils that keep their hair and skin healthy. Ear and anal glands also produce odors, and bacterial or fungal imbalances can cause unpleasant odors, which can be transferred to your rugs and be difficult to remove. Unlike bedding and clothing, most rugs can't be tossed in the washing machine for odor removal, so you need to employ other methods to get rid of dog odors.

Natural Vinegar

White vinegar and apple cider vinegar have a strong smell on their own, but actually neutralize dog odors as well, and the vinegar smell fades as it dries. Fill a spray bottle with approximately 1 part vinegar to 5 parts water and liberally spray it onto the carpet. Towel dry the carpet by pressing with a towel, then let the carpet air dry until it is completely dry. Open windows and turn on a fan if necessary, particularly in humid climates, as letting carpet sit wet for too long can cause mold and create new odors.

Baking Soda Odor Absorber

Baking soda absorbs odors and is easy to use on large surfaces. Sprinkle baking soda liberally over the entire dry carpet surface, moving furniture out of the way as necessary. Leave the baking soda on the carpet for 24 hours or at least overnight so the baking soda can absorb the dog odors. Vacuum up the baking soda, remembering it might take several passes to get it all up.

Chemical Cleaners

When natural deodorizers such as vinegar and baking soda don't remove your dog odors, try purchasing a chemical carpet cleaner targeted toward removing pet odors. Most chemical carpet cleaners contain perchloroethylene and naphthalene, which the Environmental Protection Agency warns can cause dizziness, nausea, sleepiness and even cancer or liver damage when inhaled. Open the windows or wear a face mask to avoid inhaling dangerous fumes, and make sure your pets and/or children aren't inhaling the fumes from chemical cleaners either.

Professional Help

Some large area rugs can be transported to a dry cleaner. Vacuum any extra dog hair or other debris and let the dry cleaner know you are bringing in a large item. If you have wall-to-wall carpet or a particularly large and bulky rug you can't transport, call a professional steam cleaner for help, as she will bring machines and professional-grade cleaning solutions straight to your home. You also may rent a professional cleaner from most hardware stores to try to do the job yourself for less money.